74906-61-2 11 Department of Labor, letter of June 1, 1959. The figures stated include temporary 12 Department of State, letter of June 4, 1959. The figures given represent temporary 23 Veterans' Administration, letter of June 17, 1959. The figures given include tempo- Compiled by Sandra D. Worthen, History and Government Division, Legislative Hon. LINDLEY BECKWORTH, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, · OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, DEAR MR. BECKWORTH: As requested by your letter of May 26, 1959, here are the names and addresses of student assistants and student trainees employed for this summer by the Department of Commerce. These students work and learn under the guidance of scientific, professional, and technical members of our permanent staff in a variety of fields such as physics, mathematics, engineering, statistics, economics, meteorology, etc. At the present time our needs for this year have been satisfied and we are not recruiting additional students for these summer assignments. Sincerely yours, CARLTON HAYWARD, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE, Hon. LINDLEY BECKWORTH, Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., May 17, 1961. DEAR COLLEAGUE: Reference is made to your recent note concerning the Civil Service Commission's report on H.R. 5698, a bill to extend the apportionment requirement in the Civil Service Act of January 16, 1883, to temporary summer employment, which was introduced by you. At present, every available committee meeting day is being devoted to consideration of a bill to provide increases in postal rates which was recommended by the Postmaster General. I anticipate that these hearings will not conclude for some time and other legislation pending before our committee is being held in abeyance until these hearings and action on this legislation is concluded. However, when the postal rate bill has been disposed of, I shall be pleased to review your request for hearings on H.R. 5698 and if action is scheduled, I shall advise you. With kind regards, I am, Hon. LINDLEY BECKWORTH, TOM MURRAY, Chairman. U.S. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, DEAR MR. BECKWORTH: This refers to your letter of May 17, 1961, forwarded from the Post Office Department, requesting_information about postmaster examinations at post offices the size of those at Dallas, Mineola, and Tyler, Tex. Applicants for postmaster examinations for first-class offices at Postal Field Service Levels 10 and above, such as Dallas (Postal Field Service Level 17) and Tyler (Postal Field Service Level 13), are not required to take a written test but are rated on a scale of 100 on the basis of an evaluation of their business and professional experience and their general fitness for the position. This is referred to as an "unassembled" examination. The evaluation of the applicants' experience and fitness is made from statements by the competitor in his application and on corroborative evidence secured by a representative of the Civil Service Commission through a field investigation. In the investigation, the representative interviews all the applicants under consideration, some of the applicants' references, their employers or supervisors when necessary, and other persons comprising a representative cross section of the patrons of the post office. Postmaster examinations for post offices at Postal Field Service Levels 5 through 9, such as Mineola (a first-class post office at Postal Field Service Level 9) consist of two parts: (1) a written test and (2) an evaluation of experience and fitness. These are referred to as "assembled" examination. Competitors are rated on a scale of 100 on the written test and must attain for eligibility a rating of at least 70, excluding credit for veteran preference. Those who fail to pass the written test are given no further consideration. Applicants who pass the written test are then rated on a scale of 100 on experience and fitness and must attain a rating of at least 70 in this part of the examination, excluding credit for veteran preference. The evaluation of an applicant's experience background is made from statements by the competitor in his application and on corroborative evidence secured by the Civil Service Commission through a correspondence inquiry. Competitors who are rated ineligible on experience and fitness are not assigned final numerical ratings, but are rated ineligible in the examination as a whole. The scores of each competitor who is eligible on both the written test and on experience and fitness are combined. Any additional points for veteran preference are then added to the competitor's combined (average) rating. In conducting a correspondence inquiry in examinations for postmaster positions, questionnaires regarding the applicants' qualifications are sent to some of the applicants' references, to their employers or supervisors when necessary, and to other persons, comprising a representative cross section of the patrons of the post office. Your enclosures are returned. DONALD R. HARVEY, Director, Bureau of Recruiting and Examining. U.S. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, Washington, D.C. Hon. LINDLEY BECKWORTH, DEAR MR. BECKWORTH: Chairman Jones asked me to reply to your recent letter concerning your interest in unassembled examinations. During fiscal year 1960 the Commission (central office, regional offices and boards of U.S. civil service examiners under their jurisdiction) processed 476,016 applications. Of this number 393,939 were for unassembled examinations and 82,077 for assembled examinations. An unassembled examination is one in which all or a part of the examination requirements are expressed in terms of minimum amounts of work experience or training pertinent to the class of position for which the examination is held. Some unassembled examinations include both experience and training requirements, plus a written examination as well. New hires authorized by the Commission in fiscal year 1960 totaled 238,926. However, we do not have available statistics showing the breakdown of new hires by type of examination through which appointed. We hope that this information will serve your purpose. Your enclosures are returned. DONALD R. HARVEY, Chief Examining Division. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE, Hon. J. VAUGHAN Gary, Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., May 31, 1961. DEAR VAUGHAN: I have your letter of May 23 in which you call my attention to the fact that of the 476,016 applications processed during fiscal year 1960 by the Civil Service Commission and boards of civil service examiners, 393,939 were for unassembled examinations and 82,077 for assembled examinations. I shall request the Subcommittee on Civil Service of which Congressman James H. Morrison is chairman to study the situation which you describe to determine the views of the Civil Service Commission and to suggest whatever improvements are necessary following a complete investigation. It should be noted that the Civil Service Commission has advised me that both assembled and unassembled examinations are part of the competitive civil service process. Assembled examinations are written examinations while unassembled examinations consist of filing an application for a particular position which includes the background, education and experience of the applicant and ratings |